Bucs Report Watch 2024: Week 17 vs. Panthers | Pewter Report

After final week’s momentum-stopping loss to the Cowboys in primetime, the 8-7 Bucs have to shortly get again on monitor once they return residence to Raymond James Stadium to host the 4-11 Panthers this Sunday. Tampa Bay’s NFC South title and playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and the one factor that Todd Bowles and his workforce can management on their very own is to win out over the ultimate two weeks to offer themselves a shot.

If the Bucs beat the Panthers on Sunday afternoon, they’ll be 9-7 and nonetheless alive within the division title race. A win would put some stress on the NFC South-leading Falcons heading into their Sunday Night time Soccer conflict on the highway in opposition to the Commanders. So far as Tampa Bay is worried, a win over Carolina and a Washington win over Atlanta could be an ideal remaining Sunday of the 2024 calendar 12 months. As a result of in that case, the Bucs would have a win-and-in state of affairs in Week 18 with management of their very own future again of their fingers.

Now, a win is an important factor for Bowles and Co., as no matter Sunday evening’s end result between the Falcons and Commanders, they’d nonetheless be alive within the playoff hunt. Whereas a Washington win would return management again to Tampa Bay within the NFC South with one week to play, both the division and a wild card spot could be in play in Week 18 so long as the Bucs beat the Panthers. As a result of then, with a Falcons win over the Commanders, the next situations could be arrange for the Bucs on the season’s remaining weekend:

TB wins vs. NO, ATL loses vs. CAR = TB wins NFC South
TB wins vs. NO, WAS loses at DAL = TB wins the ultimate NFC Wild Card spot

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: USA Right now

As common, there are different storylines to observe on this Week 17 sport at Ray Jay, and that’s the explanation we’re right here proper now. As we do each week right here on PewterReport.com, it’s now time to check out what else is on the road throughout this week’s sport. After all, we’re speaking about among the data and milestones that some Bucs are shifting towards.

Final week, Bucky Irving tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most dashing touchdowns by a rookie operating again in workforce historical past (7), whereas Mike Evans surpassed Shannon Sharpe for the Thirty seventh-most receptions in NFL historical past. Rachaad White additionally handed Charles Sims for the sixth-most receiving yards by a operating again in franchise historical past, and Will Gholston performed his 184th sport with the Bucs, passing Paul Gruber for the fifth-most in workforce historical past.

Right here’s the place all the pieces stands heading into Week 17:

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is 47 passing yards away from shifting forward of Josh Freeman (4,065 in 2012) and Jameis Winston (4,090 in 2016) for the fifth-most single-season passing yards in Bucs historical past.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right now

With yet another dashing landing, Mayfield can tie Doug Williams (4 in 1980, 4 in 1981) and Josh Freeman (4 in 2011) for the fourth-most single-season dashing touchdowns by a quarterback in workforce historical past.

If Mayfield throws for 3 touchdowns on Sunday, he’ll tie Tom Brady (8 in 2021) for essentially the most video games with 3+ passing touchdowns by a Buccaneer quarterback in a single season. These three landing passes would additionally transfer Mayfield forward of Brad Johnson (64) for the seventh-most in franchise historical past.

With six extra passing touchdowns over the following two weeks, Mayfield will tie Tom Brady (40 in 2020) for the second-most single-season passing touchdowns in workforce historical past.

Mike Evans

Evans is one reception away from passing Steve Largent (819) for Thirty sixth-most in NFL historical past. With three receptions, Evans may have 60+ for an eleventh straight season. That’s the longest such streak to start a profession, and it might tie Jerry Rice, Derrick Mason and Travis Kelce for the longest streak in NFL historical past.

With 9 receptions, Evans will transfer forward of Larry Facilities (827) for Thirty fifth-most in league historical past.

Evans wants one whole landing to tie — and two to cross — Tim Brown and Don Hutson (105) for Twenty first-most whole touchdowns in league historical past.

With 182 extra receiving yards, Evans will attain 1,000 for the eleventh consecutive season. That may prolong his NFL-record streak to start a profession and tie Jerry Rice for the longest 1,000-yard receiving season streak in league historical past.

CHASING GREATNESS 🫡

M1️⃣K3️⃣ now wants three receptions & 182 receiving yards to proceed his 1,000-yard & 60-catch streaks. pic.twitter.com/UWCn3oiSBe

Sunday will likely be Evans’ 167th sport with the Bucs, leaving him 17 away from passing Paul Gruber (183) for sixth-most in franchise historical past.

Rachaad White

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: USA Right now

White wants one landing of any type to tie Leonard Fournette and Reggie Cobb (22) for the seventh-most touchdowns from scrimmage by a operating again in workforce historical past.

With 28 scrimmage yards, White will attain 1,000 whole yards for the second straight season. He could be the primary Buccaneer operating again to perform that feat in back-to-back seasons since Leonard Fournette (2021-2022).

Bucky Irving

Irving is one dashing landing away from passing Errict Rhett and Lars Tate (7) for second-most by a rookie operating again in Bucs historical past. He would then path solely Doug Martin (11 in 2012).

With 20 scrimmage yards, Irving will cross Cadillac Williams (1,259 in 2005) for third-most by a Bucs rookie operating again.

Irving is 59 dashing yards away from passing Warrick Dunn (978 in 1997) for fifth-most by a Tampa Bay rookie operating again.

And with 80 extra dashing yards, Irving will change into the primary Buc to hurry for 1,000 yards in a season since Doug Martin in 2015. He’d even be the primary rookie to do it since Martin did so in 2012.

Will Gholston

Gholston is ready to play his 185th sport with Tampa Bay, leaving him six away from passing Dave Moore (190) for the fourth-most in workforce historical past.

Vita Vea

Bucs NT Vita Vea and LB Lavonte David – Photograph by: USA Right now

Vea is 4.0 sacks away from passing Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0) for ninth-most in workforce historical past.

Lavonte David

David will play his 197th sport as a Buc on Sunday, which is the third-most in franchise historical past. He trails solely Derrick Brooks (224) and Ronde Barber (241)

With a half-sack, David will cross David Logan (39.0) for sixth-most in Buccaneer historical past.

David is 5 passes defensed away from shifting forward of Carlton Davis III (73) for fourth-most in workforce historical past.

Shaq Barrett

Barrett rejoins the Bucs because the franchise’s fourth-leading sacker all time with 45.0. He doesn’t precisely have the time to get to 3rd with solely two video games left within the season, however he’s 10 away from passing Gerald McCoy (54.5) for third-most in workforce historical past.

Jamel Dean

Dean is 4 passes defensed away from passing Aqib Talib (54) for seventh-most in franchise historical past.